In deciding the coat I would like made for my wedding, I’ve had to do quite a bit of research.
These were the criteria for my coat:
1) Made of midnight blue velvet with sky blue silk lining
2) Something with a ‘period’ feel about it
3) Fitted at the bust and flowing past the waist with a big enough bustle to accommodate my dress
It didn’t seem easy to find exact pictures of what I wanted. So I started looking at different fashions in history for inspiration.
There was the Regency style. The pelisse was an extremely popular style. It is almost a bolero type small jacket ending under the bust in order to suit the high waisted empire dress styles of the period.
Photo Credit here
Here’s a beautiful modern interpretation of the pelisse which would be perfect for a bride.
Stand-up collar jacket by Rohm on Etsy
Amazing article on Regency coats at this Jane Austen website.
I then looked towards Edwardian fashion. I’ve already been influenced a little by the sombre Edwardian style – I think I’ll be buying an Edwardian umbrella in case of a rainy wedding day.
But the fashion of that period turned out not to be at all what I was looking for (even though the magazine title for this image was ‘Incontestable Seduction’ which is very appealing!)
The Victorian period and more specifically military style outerwear turned out to be closer to what I was searching for.
Although this is a men’s U.S. Officer’s Regulation Cloak Coat it has elements of what I am after. The braiding detail on the sleeve I especially love.
And I love this reproduction Victorian coat . Lots of Gothic drama!
But since I want the coat to cover my dress I want something floor length. This dress coat by Joan Shum has a great outline: fitted at the top with a large skirt.
Details are important and I would like the front of my coat to be frogged and buttoned in military fashion which basically means it will look like this:
With my future mother-in-law’s help, we found the pattern for the coat. It is an old Vogue design by none other Oscar de la Renta. So although I can only drool over his dresses I still get a little bit of Oscar for my very own!
We’re changing the ridiculously puffy sleeves (Oscar what were you thinking?!) for something more fitted.
I’ve ordered the pattern from America and now we just have to wait till it arrives. Exciting!
♥ Seven Weddings ♥ 
